Sleep Apnea
Livermore & Tracy, CA
Having an occasional poor night of sleep is fairly common. You may have gone to bed too late, or you may have a lot on your mind. However, if you wake up day after day feeling like you never even slept at all no matter what time you went to bed, you may be living with a condition known as sleep apnea. Pacific Oral & Facial Surgery Center can help improve your life.
What Is Sleep Apnea?Sleep apnea is a condition in which you stop breathing several times throughout the course of the night. These are known as apneic events, and usually only last a few seconds. Every time you stop breathing, you wake up, although you are usually not aware that this is happening. Normally when you sleep, your body goes through two different cycles that it repeats several times. These cycles are crucial for physical and mental healing and regeneration and allow you to wake up feeling rested and refreshed. When you have sleep apnea, these sleep cycles are interrupted. Every time you wake up, your body has to start all over again. Sleep apnea ranges in severity from mild, where you have 5 to 14 apneic events per sleep hour, to severe, more than 30 events per sleep hour. Because of this, it is no wonder you wake up feeling so tired. There are two different types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is the most common type and is caused by a blockage of your airway. Blockages may be your tongue, excess oral tissues, or your throat closing due to excess weight. Central sleep apnea, on the other hand, is caused by a miscommunication between your brain and the muscles that control your lungs.
Sleep Apnea SymptomsWaking up morning after morning feeling exhausted, groggy, and like you never went to bed in the first place is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. There are also several other symptoms that may occur as well:
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Snoring, which you might not notice unless you have been told.
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Waking up with a dry or sore throat.
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Excessive daytime sleepiness. You may even fall asleep during the day.
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Difficulty concentrating.
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Irritability or difficulty controlling your other emotions.
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Over time, you may develop health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, weight gain, and a decreased immune system.
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Depression. |
Diagnosing Your Sleep ApneaDiagnosing sleep apnea involves a sleep study, which can be done at a sleep clinic or in your own home. Before you go to bed, you are hooked up to machines that monitor, and record, the electrical impulses in your brain and your muscles. A sleep specialist then goes over the recorded information and can then make a diagnosis of sleep apnea or other sleep-related illness.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?There are several different treatments that can help to alleviate your sleep apnea. The exact treatment you are recommended depends upon your situations. Common treatments include:
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Weight loss. For some patients, losing weight can solve sleep apnea issues.
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C-PAP. A continuous positive airway pressure machine is a common treatment for sleep apnea. This machine delivers a continuous stream of air through a mask worn over your nose while you sleep, keeping your airway open.
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Oral appliance therapy. For mild to moderate sleep apnea, we can provide you with an oral appliance. This device resembles a mouth guard and is worn over your top teeth. It works to hold your jaw in proper alignment, preventing it, and your oral tissues, from sliding back.
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Oral surgery to treat sleep apnea. In severe cases of sleep apnea, oral surgery may be needed. Surgery may involve removing excess tissues or realigning your jaw. |
Effective treatment of sleep apnea not only restores your ability to sleep, but it can also give you your life back. Call Pacific Oral & Facial Surgery Center today at 925-290-7727 for more information on this and all of our procedures. |
Livermore: 925-290-7727
